5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“While waiting to board, you can spend time exploring the duty-free stores and other retail shops in the terminal.”
Shane Selvaratnam5★ on Google
Airports / Sri Lanka / CMB
Large airport · CMB
Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport.
Colombo, Sri Lanka · 30 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.0/5
Google rating
20,352 ratings
0
Operators based
30
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Colombo, Sri LankaELEV 30 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.0
Google rating
20,352
Google reviews
ratings on Google
30
Field elevation
feet above sea level
22
Nearest alternate
nm to RML
Field standing
22 nm
To the nearest alternate
Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML).
Overview
Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (VCBI / CMB) is a large commercial airport serving Colombo, Sri Lanka. The airport sits 30 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into CMB for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML, 22 nm), Anuradhapura Airport (ACJ, 75 nm), and Koggala Airport (KCT, 76 nm). With a single 10,991-foot paved runway, CMB can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from CMB depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under RAF Negombo and Katunayake International Airport. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Colombo.
Run an FBO at VCBI? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
4/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Other than this minor inconvenience, everything else went smoothly, and I had a pleasant experience overall.”
Shane Selvaratnam5★ on Google
4/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The airport is generally well-organized, and the staff are often courteous and welcoming.”
Kavinda Deshan5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
VCBI
IATA
CMB
FAA / Local
VCBI
Elevation
30 ft
Coordinates
7.1808° N · 79.8841° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Sri Lanka fields
state range 6–324 ft
At 30 ft, CMB sits lower than 50% of the 10 Sri Lanka fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 10,991 ft
- 04/2210,991 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,991 ft
CMB's 10,991 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 22nmRMLColombo Ratmalana International AirportColombo
- 75nmACJAnuradhapura AirportAnuradhapura
- 76nmKCTKoggala AirportGalle
- 84nmHIMHingurakgoda Air Force BasePolonnaruwa Town
- 91nmHRIMattala Rajapaksa International AirportMattala
- 104nmADPAmpara AirportAmpara
Location
Open the full mapVCBI · Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport · Colombo, Sri Lanka
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CMB on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 6,092 nm | 14h 34m |
| Honolulu (HNL) | 6,998 nm | 16h 40m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 7,322 nm | 17h 26m |
| Boston (BED) | 7,435 nm | 17h 41m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,585 nm | 18h 2m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 7,704 nm | 18h 19m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,764 nm | 18h 27m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,781 nm | 18h 30m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CMB?
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport's longest paved runway is 10,991 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CMB?
- Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport has one runway; the longest measures 10,991 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CMB?
- The closest alternate is Colombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML), about 22 nm away, followed by Anuradhapura Airport (ACJ) at 75 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CMB to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 14h 34m (6,092 nm), Honolulu about 16h 40m (6,998 nm), Seattle about 17h 26m (7,322 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.